The Petroleum act 1934

The Petroleum act 1934 and the petroleum rules 1976 deal with import, transport,
storage, production, refining and blending of petroleum.

Petroleum means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons and any

inflammable mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid of hydrocarbon.

General classification of petroleum products :

The products are classified according to their close up flash points as follows :

Petroleum class A :

Means petroleum having flash point below 23 deg. C (eg : petrol, benzene, Methanol etc.)

Petroleum Class B :

Means petroleum having flash point above 23 deg. C and below 65 deg. C (eg :
Kerosense, Mineral Turpentine , HSD etc)

Petroleum Class C :

Means petroleum having flash point above 65 deg. C and below 93 deg. C (eg: Furnace
oil, LDO etc.)

NB: No license is needed for storage, transport etc of class A petroleum not intended for
sale if the total quantity is one’s possession does not exceed 30 liters (receptacles not to
exceed 25liters in capacity)

No license is needed for storage of 2500 ltrs of class B Petroleum in non building (kept in
receptacles not exceeding 1 kl in capacity)

No license is needed for storage of 45kl of class C petroleum.

Important provisions in the Act.

1. No leaky tank of container shall be used for transporting petroleum.

2. Barrels, drums and other containers filled with petroleum shall be loaded with
bung upwards.
3. No person engaged in loading, unloading , transport of petroleum shall smoke or
carry matches, lighters or other appliances capable of producing ignition or
explosion.
 4. Petroleum shall not be loaded or unloaded from ship, vessel or vehicle between
sunset or rise unless.
a) adequate electric lighting is provided at the place of loading / unloading
and the same of flame proof type and
b) Adequate fire fighting facilities with personnel are kept ready at the
place.

5. Every Tanker used for transport of class A and B petroleum in bulk should be of
approved type in writing by CHIEF CONTROLLER OF EXPLOSIVES (CCE),
Nagpur. The tankers lorries are required to be as per standard laid down.

These are mainly :

a) Construction of Iron and steel having minimum physical requirements

like minimum yield point, ultimate strength, elongation, thickness etc.
b) Efficiency of joints shall not be less than 85% of the adjacent metal
so joined.
c) No compartment shall have net capacity exceeding 5kl.
d) Each compartment of the tank shall be tested by a responsible
person by hydrostatic pressure, of not less than 0.316 kg /sq.cm.
e) It shall have emergency discharge control value.
f) Two adjoining compartments of a tank shall not be tested or filled with
water simultaneously.
g) Each compartment should have independent vacuum and pressure
operated vent having minimum effective opening of 3 square
centimeter and the opening covered with 2 layers of non corroded metal
wire mesh having not less than 11 mesh per centimeter.
h) The vent shall be designed to prevent loss of liquid through vent in the
event the vehicle upset.
i) Each partition in the compartment shall be either dished, corrugated,
reinforced or rolled. Flat partitioned with out reinforcement shall not be
allowed.
j) Each tank shall have fill pipe going down almost to bottom and having
outer end so designed as to ensure leak proof connection with hose.
k) Each tank lorry used for transportation of petroleum shall have the
word “FLAMMABLE” along with MOTOR SPIRIT or
KEROSENE etc written prominently.
l) The engine shall have spark arresters of approved type and shall be
below engine at front.
m) Every vehicle shall be constantly attended.
n) No person shall transport class A or B petroleum in bulk without a valid
license.
o) No person shall load or unload petroleum from or into a vehicle except
at places approved by CCE.
6. Any accident, fire or explosion occurring within the area specified in the license,
with loss of human life or serious injury to person or damage to property shall be
immediately reported to the nearest Magistrate or to the officer in charge of the
nearest police station and by telegram to CCE/Nagpur.
7. Prevention against static charges:

a) All pipelines in tank lorry, loading / unloading shall be efficiently

earthed.
b) Only sound and electrically continuous hose or metal pipes shall be
used for loading or unloading petroleum.
c) The tank, filling pipe and the chassis of the tank vehicle shall
during loading of petroleum be effectively bonded and connected
with earth.
d) No tank vehicle shall be at a rate exceeding one meter per sec. at
the delivery end of the filling pipe until the filling pipe is completely
submerged and thereafter the loading rate gradually increased but
it shall at no time exceed 6mts per sec.
e) Dip rod, if used shall be lowered into the tank or compartment before
loading of petroleum. The rod shall not be completely raised above the
liquid level during or within one minute of the completion of such
loading. No Mechanically propelled vehicle shall be loaded or unloaded
unless its engine has been stopped and battery isolated from the
electrical circuit. Similarly the engine shall not be started and the
battery connected to the electrical circuit until all tanks and valves have
been tightly closed.
f) No person shall carry out repair of a tank lorry by welding, soldering or
riveting unless the same has been thoroughly cleaned and vapour freed.